Ballack fit for Community Shield and will lead Germany against Azerbaijan

The Chelsea and Germany midfielder Michael Ballack has recovered from the broken toe which saw him return early from the clubs pre-season tour of America last month, and Carlo Ancelotti is confident that he will be available to play against Man Utd in the Community Shield at Wembley this weekend.

“For the next match against United he will be ready,” Ancelotti said on Tuesday.

“I have more or less the team that will play in my mind,” he said.

“We have this week before the game and I want to control the physical condition of all my players.

“We have to improve a little over the next week but I’m happy with the condition of the team.”

The Germany coach Joachim Loew was a little more forthcoming on the state of Ballack, but also stressed how important he was to the team.

“I have been in constant contact with him. He has resumed training with Chelsea and everything’s going well. I’m working on the basis that he will be available.” Loew said,

“He has considerable experience and brings his own qualities, he is without doubt a leader.”

If Ballack can come through those two games unscathed then Chelsea should have a great array of options in midfield for the Premier League opener against Hull. It will be very interesting to see who Ancelotti’s first choices will be for his diamond formation.